Advancing theory and research on scientific synthesis

NCEAS, NESCent, and other synthesis centers, were created to improve scientific understanding and help solve complex social and environmental problems by organizing collaborations among researchers with diverse scientific skills and expertise. Resulting research has substantially improved knowledge of these issues, but little is known about how scientists in these centers collaborate and how they can improve their performance. We propose to organize a meeting which will draw together an international, interdisciplinary group of scientists to apply the scientific method to the research process itself. It will analyze how scientists involved in these centers work together and how they can do so more effectively.